Paraben Free Classic Arnold Palmer

Total time45 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time5 min

5.0

(29)

Few drinks hit the spot quite like a tall, ice-cold glass of equal parts sweet tea and fresh lemonade — it's refreshing, nostalgic, and endlessly satisfying on a warm day. This version is made entirely from scratch, which means you know exactly what's going into your glass: black tea, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, a simple homemade syrup, and water. That matters more than it might seem, because many bottled teas, lemonades, and flavored drinks contain preservatives and synthetic additives that people avoiding parabens and similar compounds work hard to steer clear of. Steeping the tea gently and pulling the bags before squeezing keeps the flavor clean and smooth, without any bitterness. The lemonade side is bright and tart, balanced by just enough simple syrup to round out the edges. Poured over ice with a few lemon slices and a sprig of fresh mint, it looks as good as it tastes. Once you make it this way, the bottled stuff really doesn't stand a chance.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the tea

4 cups water, divided
4 black tea bags

For the lemonade

½ cup granulated sugar
2 cup water
¾ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 4–5 lemons)

For serving

ice, for serving
lemon slices, for serving (optional)
fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat, add the 4 tea bags, and steep for 5 minutes. Remove and discard the tea bags without squeezing them, then stir in the remaining 2 cups of cold water. Set aside to cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
2
While the tea cools, combine the sugar and 1/2 cup water in the saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved and the syrup is clear, about 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.

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